Day 1 : Vientiane – Arrival
Arrvive at the Wattay Airport. Welcome and transfer to the hotel. In the afternoon, visit Wat Simuang, Vientiane’s most sacred site, and the religious museum at Wat Sisaket, where thousands of statues of Buddha in bronze, stone and wood are displayed. Eplore Wat Pra Keo, original home of the Emerald Buddha that now resides in Bangkok, the 16th century That Luang Golden Stupa, and the Ratuxai Victory Gate, also known as the Laos’ Arc de Triomphe. The day ends viewing the sunset along the banks of the Mekong River. Dinner and overnight at the hotel in Vientiane. (L.D)
Day 2 : Vientiane – Luang Prabang – Khuang Si Falls
Breakfast. Transfer to the airport for the flight to Luang Prabang, once the capital of Lane Xang Kingdom. Luang Prabang is one of the most beautiful and attractive areas of Laos, located among valleys along the Mekong River and its major tributaries. Check in the hotel. Take a haft-hour drive to Khuang Si Falls, where waters tumble over multi-tiered limestone formations into a series of turquoise pools. In the afternoon, drive back to town for a brief city tour to the Former Royal Palace (now the National Museum), to Wat Xieng Thong, Wat Sen, Wat Visun. At the end of the day, enjoy the sunset from the top of Mount Phou Si. Dinner and overnights at the hotel in Luang Prabang. (B.L.D)
Day 3 : Luang Prabang – Pak Ou Caves
Breakfast. Take a full day boat trip on the mighty Mekong River. En route, visit the mysterious Pak Ou Caves built into towering limestone cliffs along the river bank. Inside the caves are thousands of statues of Buddha in various sizes. Continue down river to Ban Xang Hai village, where the local residents create a unique rice wine called Lao Lao. After picnic lunch, return to Luang Prabang for a short visit to the typical Lao village at Ban Xang Khong. Dinner and overnight at the hotel in Luang Prabang. (B.L.D)
Day 4 : Luang Prabang – Vientiane
After breakfast, visit Luang Prabang market and a number of shops selling antiques and silver jewelry made by moutain tribes. Transfer to the airport for the return flight to Vientiane. Upon arrival, transfer to the hotel. Dinner and overnight at the hotel in Vientiane. (B.L.D)
Day 5 : Vientiane – Laksao - Vinh
After breakfast. Take a full day scenic drive to the Laksao border crossing for entry into Viet Nam (Immigration formalities will be prepared prior to the arrival at the border crossing). Drive to Vinh City in the North Central Viet Nam and transfer to the hotel. Dinner and overnight in Vinh. (B.L.D)
Day 6 : Vinh – Ninh Binh
After breakfast, drive to Ninh Binh, through rice paddies and small villages. Arrive in Ninh Binh. Check in the hotel. (B.L.D)
Day 7 : Ninh Binh – Hoa Lu – Kenh Ga – Water Puppet – Hai Phong
Breakfast. Drive to Hoa Lu to visit temples dedicated to two ancient Vietnamese Kings. Continue the trip to Kenh Ga, a floating village in Ninh Binh filled with untouched landscapes, limestone cliffs and caves. Travel peacefully through the village by motor-boat and rowboat taking in scenes of fishermen, children going to school, and daily life along the riverfront. Disembark for a brief walk through green rice fields to visit Van Trinh cave. In the afternoon, drive to Hai Phong stopping en route at Pho Minh Pagoda and at a small village known as the birthplace of water puppetry in the Red Delta. Enjoy beautiful views of rice fields and country life before meeting local artisans who specialise in the ancient art or water puppetry. Enjoy a water puppet performance, eat local delicacies, and fly lanterns for good luck. Proceed to Hai Phong. Dinner and overnight in Hai Phong. (B.L.D)
Day 8 : Hai Phong – Ha Long
Breakfast. Drive to Ha Long bay, the World Heritage. Embark a sailing junk for an excursion in Ha Long bay that look like a paradise comprising more than 3,000 islands and islets on an area of 1,500 km2. Water color is emerald. Lunch and dinner with seafood. Overnight on board. (B.LD)
Day 9 : Ha Long – Ha Noi
Breakfast. Continue the excursion in Ha Long bay. Lunch on board. Disembark and drive back to Ha Noi through Hai Phong, the biggest port city of the North of Viet Nam for a panoramic city tour. Dinner and overnight at your hotel in Ha Noi. (B.L.D)
Day 10 : Ha Noi
Breakfast. Leave hotel for a morning of sightseeing around Hanoi which includes the One Pillar Pagoda, Ho Chi Minh ‘s Mausoleum, the former Governor of Indochina’s Palace, Ho Chi Minh’s home, the history Museum. Lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, visit the 11th century Temple of Literature, the Museum of Fine-Arts, the Lake of the Restored Sword, Ngoc Son Temple. There is a 30 minutes-tour of the 36 guilds of the famous Old Quarter by cyclo, the Vietnamese version of the rickshaw. Evening, enjoy a water puppets show. Dinner and overnight at the hotel in Hanoi. (B.L.D)
Day 1 1 : Ha Noi – Departure
Breakfast. Visit the Tran Quoc pagoda, the Quan Thanh temple, shopping and free time until the transfer to the Tan San Nhat International Airport for the departure. (L.D)
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